Conaway discusses ISIL’s money, social media savvy

Published 8:59 pm, Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Oct. 1 at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Oct. 1 at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Congressman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) held a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

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Conaway discusses ISIL’s money, social media savvy

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U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway’s intimate townhall meeting at Midland County Public Library Centennial branch on Wednesday was headlined by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), a Middle Eastern terrorist group notorious for its extremist religious views and violent actions.

ISIL has reportedly extorted money from civilians, killed thousands of civilians and, most notably, killed two American journalists and a British aid worker.

To a group of residents sitting in a circle with the congressman, Conaway noted the similarity between ISIL and other Muslim extremist group al-Qaida, which is the vision of a caliphate, or Islamic State, in parts of the Middle East.

But the differences that set ISIL apart from al-Qaida are organization, social media savvy and money, Conaway said. He said ISIL was selling about $1 million to $2 million per day in black market oil until the U.S. began striking its assets.

“They’re the best-funded terrorist group that we have faced,” Conaway said. “They have turned a profit each month so they have reserves built up.”

Conaway also talked about ISIL’s recruitment and public opinion efforts through social media. He talked about how a U.S. citizen joined ISIL and became a suicide bomber after being influenced by propaganda on the Internet.

Conaway believes it is in the country’s best interest to intervene and attack ISIL, because the region — rich in oil and gas — would be “destabilized” if the caliphate is established.

“That simply cannot be allowed to stand,” Conaway said. “It would be a safe haven for other terrorist organizations. And ISIL has specifically said they are going to attack the West, including the U.S.”

After ISIL released videos of the beheading of American photojournalist James Foley and American journalist Steven Sotloff, President Barack Obama announced on Sept. 10 the U.S. will be leading an attack on ISIL. On Sept. 22, the U.S. began launching airstrikes in Syria.

Conaway made a dig at Obama, saying he gave ISIL a “two-week heads up” on the attack, but nonetheless, the airstrikes are happening.

When asked if the attack on ISIL should intensify beyond airstrikes, Conaway took a wait-and-see attitude. Because there are no troops on the ground, the airstrikes can be as precise as they need to be, he said.

As for ISIL in America — a topic made prominent when Sheriff Gary Painter said on national news networks that there is Islamic State activity in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico — Conaway said there is a possibility of infiltration, from the U.S. and Mexico border and the U.S. and Canada border. He said ISIL members can “hide in plain sight” within the large Arab population in Canada.

“I don’t discount that there could be, in fact, bad guys that have used the infiltration routes that the drug smugglers have been using for a long time to come into this country,” Conaway said. “I think there (are) legitimate threats from both sides.”